The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1887-08-31

for Paris. You know what talent for
drawing he had. Well, they say he
swore he would become a painter
Coupon took Fanny abroad so that she
would forget him and when they were
in Paris she went to his studio to get
her portrait painted and found him
starving. She made him take money
and finally got her fathers consent to
their marriage. Now, was that how
it WASP"
"Well, not exactly. When Fanny's
mother died she left her half million.
Her father made her put it in the
stock of that railroad he's president
of. Fanny's stock with her fathers
stock gave him control, and he
did as he pleased The
other stockholders tried often
to beat him. but they couldn't, and he
ran things without consulting any one
else. Well, when we were in Paris,
Fanny didn't seem to trouble herself
much about her lover, and her father
was pretty we'll pleased. One day we
were out chopping, and when we came
to the hotel we found old Coupon pac-
ing up and down the room like lion.
He had crumpled cablegram in his
hand. He never minded my presence -
bit Che never dsd care for any one but
himselN, but he turned to Fanny like
mailman:
"'Oh, you're here at last. are you?
Say! have you sold any of your rail-
road stock?'
eyes, father, I've sold it all
"Great heavens! Do you mean to
tell me that? What in the name OF all
the fiends made you do such a thing as
that without consulting me? How
dared you do it?'
"You know what Fanny is. She's a
chip of the old block, | tell you. She
stood there as calm, pulling off her
| gloves, and never even turned pale.
Dared?' she said. 1 dared be-
cause it was my own and because am
twenty-five years old. That's why l
| dared
''Oh! you ought to have heard old
Coupon swear. 1t was just dreadful.
He brought down his fist on the table
and l thought he would split it in two.
"'You simpering idiot you. That's
what fool woman knows about bust
ness! To 90 and sell that stock with
out saying word to me. Lord! J!
Who do you thinks got it now2'
81 suppose Skinner. the broker. I
sold it to him. He said it WASH t
every one could get stock for thirty
five and sell itfor sixty
'Sixty!! Sixty devils.
".No, sixty dollars
Il thought Old Coupon would have
struck her. Oh, uasn't he mad. ]
don't believe either of them remem-
bered I was in the room. DO you
know he shouted, that that whelp
Hartford has got that stock, and that
he has his plans laid to
freeze me out? Do you know
that you have ruined one of the most
magnificent railroad deals of the cent
ury? Do you know that if you had
held on to that stock three months
longer it would have been worth 10?
DO you know that it is ninety now?
Do you see what fool you are and
that you have ruined mep
."How could Hartford have got il
when you said yourself that he was a
beggarP'
'"Beggar be - (oh, can't tell
you the perfectly awful language he
nsed). Why man who knew where
to put his hand on that stock could
have raised the money for it in ten
minutes in Detroit, if he were ten times
a beggar.'
Don't you think you could make
terms with Hartford? You used to be
good friends.
"Old Coupon sat down and groaned.
He dug his hands in his hair and rest
ed his elbows on the table.
"Tm real sorry said Fanny; I'll
buy back the stock, if you like
"Then Old Coupon jumped up and
began pacing up and down, and swear
ing again.
"'Hear the simpleton! he yelled.
She'll buy it back!! Good gracious!
haven't you sense enough to know that
you could as easily buy your way into
Heaven? Buy back the stock! l sup
pose you think it's like piece of silk
that they will exchange at the store.
"'Well, said Fanny, with sigh,
i am afraid you will have to make
some kind of terms with M: Hart
| ford. Pm sorry now we didn' use him
better.
old Coupon looked at her for a
moment
Fanny he said. do you think he
would come over if you cabled to him p
"Oh, Icouldn't do thing like that.
Not for the yorld.'
".But. by George, you must do it,
he cried, bringing his fist down on the
table again; you have got me into
this muddle, and it is your duty to do
any thing you can to get me out
".But, father. if he comes over here
-he-that is-if he should
"Oh, hang it all, don't founder
about like that. / know what you
mean. If he wants to marry you, and
won't give up the stock unless, then
| you'll have to 7narru him. do Won hearp